Clinical trials remain one of the most time-consuming and expensive parts of drug development. But artificial intelligence (AI), long discussed as a tool for improving healthcare, is finally beginning to deliver tangible results, particularly in clinical research and precision medicine. A recent article from Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN) explores how advances in AI and computer vision are reshaping the way pharmaceutical companies approach trial design and patient recruitment. At Iterative Health, we see this shift happening in real time, especially within the field of gastroenterology.
Moving From Promise to Practice
As highlighted in the GEN article, skepticism around AI in healthcare is not without cause. Past efforts, like IBM Watson Health, promised more than they delivered. But today, the conversation has changed. Improved machine learning models, better image resolution, and scalable cloud computing have created a solid foundation for AI-driven tools that are not just theoretical but highly practical.
One of the biggest reasons for this shift is a new focus on well-defined clinical use cases. Rather than attempting to apply AI broadly to all aspects of healthcare, successful innovators are targeting specific, solvable problems. In gastroenterology, that’s where Iterative Health is focused: creating AI-powered tools that bring standardization and objectivity to complex, image-heavy procedures like endoscopy.
A Case Study in IBD Trial Recruitment
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects over 3 million people in the United States and remains an area where clinical trial recruitment has been particularly difficult. Endoscopic scoring, the process used to determine trial eligibility, is highly subjective and varies from one physician to another. This makes it harder for drug developers to find the right participants and slows down the entire trial process.
At Iterative Health, we are working to change this. Our AI-powered software analyzes colonoscopy videos and images to generate consistent, standardized disease scores. By removing variability and speeding up the eligibility assessment, we can help sponsors recruit more efficiently, while also improving patient outcomes by supporting more precise diagnoses and monitoring.
The Data Challenge and the Opportunity
It’s not just about having the algorithms. Success in this field requires high-quality annotated data, robust validation protocols, and most importantly, collaboration. At Iterative Health, we partner with leading GI organizations to access diverse, well-curated datasets. These partnerships are critical to building tools that can be trusted by both clinicians and pharmaceutical sponsors.
However, challenges remain. Many pharmaceutical companies are hesitant to share proprietary data, even though it is essential for training more accurate and generalizable AI models. Overcoming this reluctance will require a shift in thinking — recognizing that sharing data in a secure, ethical framework benefits the entire ecosystem and accelerates innovation.
Building the Future of Drug Development
AI can bring objectivity, efficiency, and precision to clinical trials. By focusing on specific challenges like recruitment and disease scoring in IBD, we believe that Iterative Health is helping to pave the way for a more effective and patient-centered drug development process.
We encourage you to read the full article from GEN for a broader perspective on the trends shaping this exciting space: AI Has the Potential to Improve Efficiency of Clinical Trials
About Iterative Health
Iterative Health is a healthcare technology and services company powering the acceleration of clinical research to transform patient outcomes. By combining deep expertise in clinical trials with cutting-edge AI, we empower research teams and study sponsors to expand and expedite access to novel therapeutics for patients in need. Today, Iterative Health is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and New York City with 250+ employees world-wide.
To learn more or explore a partnership, please visit our Contact page.